LIFE AND TIMES OF ROD STEWART

Focusing on one of the best-selling musicians of all-time, his name, Sir Roderick David Stewart who we all know professionally as Rod Stewart.

 This chart-buster music legend who holds the record of having six hit albums stay at the U.K Charts number one spot consecutively and other chart-buster feats. Rod Stewart as we shall hereunto refer to this great musician who was born on the 10th day of January 1945 at 507 Archway Road, Highgate, North London. He was born to Robert (Scottish) and Elsie (English) Stewart.

TOP 36 ROD STEWART SONGS PLAYLIST [VIDEO]

The youngest of five Stewart children, Rod came after an eight-year break and was born towards the end of the then ensuing World War II. 

Failing through Primary school and much of his higher school, Rod dropped out of school altogether at age 15. Although his father was an amateur football player and a staunch fan of the game, he noticed the early traits of musicianship in his young son, Rod. 1959 saw Rod's father buy him his very first guitar, in 1960 Rod Stewart joined his first musical group called the Kool Kats who sang only repertoires of Rock and Roll stars of the time. 

1961 saw Rod attend a musical audition on Denmark Street which hooked him up with popular music producer of that time Joe Meek, a life-changing event happened there. Rod who had before the audition had airs about himself as a musician got his balloon of pride punctured - as way into the audition-session, Joe Meek rudely cut Rod out - as he mumbled some incoherent words which evidently pointed to the fact that Rod had not met up to expectations as a music artiste.

This untoward event caused Rod to work pretty hard at bettering himself by listening and rehearsing the likes of Woody Guthrie, Deroll Adams, Bob Dylan, and Alex Campbell. 

Shortly after taking time out to work on himself musically, Rod became one of the best sounds in North London, in 1963 in a bid to brand himself he adopted his signature fashion-look called MOD Lifestyle. His timeout personal musical development exercises saw him learn and master how to play the harmonica. In 1963 he joined the then RNB group, the Dimensions, as a singer and harmonica player, this was considered his first professional job as a musician. 

His new musical group performed weekly at the popular Studio 51 club in London which was a hangout for the Rolling Stones from time to time, Rod gained prominence as a budding musician in and around this time as he equally adopted Mick Jagger's harmonica playing style.

Life as a musician picked up in October 1968 as he signed his first solo contract with Mercury Records A & R through the inside efforts of his friend Lou Reizner. 

Fame came in 1975 when Rod Stewart left the shores of England to Los Angeles, USA, where he released his hit album - Atlantic Crossing - which saw a turn around in the life of the British musician. Rod Stewart has through the years been a strong icon in the music world and his flying-color achievements have still remained undaunted. In 2007 Rod Stewart was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and in 2016, he was knighted for his exceptional contribution and services to music and charity.

Rod Stewart is among the 20 wealthiest people in the British music industry with an estimated fortune of £170 million. 

Rod Stewart who has an undying passion for automobiles, and boasts of being a proud owner of one of the 400 limited editions of the luxury Ferrari Enzos. 1982 was Rod Stewart was car-jacked in Los Angeles while he was trying to park his Porsche which cost a staggering $50,000 at the time, not too long after the incident the luxury-brand car was recovered and returned to the music icon. Rod Stewart is known to father eight children from various mothers and it's a well-known fact that Rod Stewart has a thing for models. Rod Stewart has over the course of his career sold over 200 million copies globally which placed him on the list of all-time best-selling music artistes.

Below is a list of awards and honors bestowed on this great music legend:

• Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music (1993)

• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1994 (as a solo artist)

• Received the first ever Diamond Award from the World Music Awards for over 100 million records sold worldwide in 2001

• Received a Legend Award from the World Music Awards

• Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (2005)

• Inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame (2006)

• James Brown called Rod Stewart music's "best white soul singer" in September 2006.

• Awarded CBE in 2007

• Appointed Knight Bachelor in 2016

• Received the ASCAP Founders Award in 2011

• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2012

To date, Rod Stewart has received seven various Canadian Juno Award nominations.